Hetepheres I

Hetepheres I was a wife of pharaoh Snefru (ruled c. 2613 BC - 2589 BC), mother of Khufu, and the grandmother of Djedefre, Khafre, and Queen Hetepheres II. Her titles were: King’s Mother, Mother of the Dual King, Attendant of Horus, and God’s Daughter of his body . She married Snefru to connect two royal lines. Her father was the pharaoh Huni and Snefru was probably her step brother. His mother was surely related to the another pharaoh of this period, but it's unknown which one.

Hetepheres probably died during the reign of Khufu. We don't know too much about her personality or her life. Even her tomb was unknown until February 2nd, 1925. That was the day when Mohamadien Ibrahim, who was working for George Andrew Reisner, head of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition, discovered a tomb that was attributed to Queen Hetepheres. This spectacular discovery provided the world with a name of one of the first important ancient Egyptian women and also brought some information about this forgotten queen to light.

Her grave goods were discovered in a shaft (G700X) beside one of the Queen’s pyramids in the Great Pyramid Complex. The sarcophagus was sealed, but empty. The canopic jars were intact and are the oldest example recovered from ancient Egypt so far. The cache also included a number of pieces of beautiful furniture and jewellery

The Treasure of Hetepheres

After entering the tomb, called officially G7000X, researchers discovered that the grave was looted in ancient times, but many spectacular treasures were still inside. The burial chamber included many beautiful objects made of gilded wood, including a portable pavilion, a carrying chair, a bed, several wooden boxes and two armchairs. The wooden artifacts were very well preserved.Actual chair of Queen Hetepheres in the Cairo Museum. 

There was also a leather case for walking sticks, a curtain box, some cooper tools, three golden vessels, a box containing razors, and numerous other small objects. Research later showed that the artifacts belong to the time of the 4th Dynasty. There were also twenty silver bracelets inlaid with turquoise, lapis lazuli, and carnelian – one of the most beautiful known examples of the Old Kingdom's jewelry. Many objects bore the names and titles of Snefru and Hetepheres. According to the inscriptions, her complete title is "Mother of the King of Upper and Lower Egypt, follower of Horus, controller of the butchers of the acacia house, one of whom everything she says, is done, the god's bodily daughter, Hetepheres".